Friday, May 2, 2008

Ask Mary: Missing Ingredients

Ask Mary: Missing Ingredients

Dear Mary,

I store recipes that I want to cook in a box in my kitchen, and try to remember to take them with me to the store, but sometimes, when I am in a hurry, I forget. That means I may also forget to buy certain ingredients. If I forget an ingredient or two, can I still make the recipe? And what happens if I can’t find a certain ingredient at the store in the first place?

Thanks, Kit

If only I had a dime for every time someone asked me this question. This actually happens to me quite a bit, especially when I’m in a rush. The reality is that it really depends on what you forget.

For instance, if you forget to buy fresh parsley you can sub dried parsley, or you can leave it out. If you forget to buy shallots, you can always sub it for something similar like garlic, or leave it out all together.

But if you are looking for hominy, and come back with chickpeas, you’ll find yourself in a bind. In some cases there are no good substitutes, and you’ll have to figure that out through trial and error. If your store is missing a certain item, ask the store manager to help you find an alternative ingredient.

Lunch A LA Mode

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What is this Blog about?

Greetings! My name is Mary and I love to cook. I am an executive chef and Nutritionist with a tremendous passion for all things edible.

I call this blog my Chef Diaries. I experience the culinary world on a daily basis, and want to share these experiences with my friends and colleagues. Why? Good food is heavenly but you don’t have to be a trained chef to enjoy it. I truly believe there’s a gourmet inside each of us.

I’m currently working on a book and hosting You Tube webisodes filled with “Ask Chef Mary” cooking tips. I encourage you to visit as often as you can and engage in a dialogue with me about life in the kitchen. I can’t wait to hear from you. We’re going to learn so much together.

Cooking with Mary Index

Portion Sizes

5 1/2 oz meat and beans

3 cups dairy

2 cups fruit

2 1/2 cups vegetables

6 oz Grains

Quotes to Live By...

Be Impeccable With Your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.Don Miguel Ruiz

Have great hopes and dare to go all out for them. Have great dreams and dare to live them. Have tremendous expectations and believe in them.Norman Vincent Peale

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.Henry David Thoreau

Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.Leon J. Suenes

Where I like to eat in LA! (If you click on the restaurant it will take you to their site)

This website is designed to provide you with general information about nutrition and cooking, and should not be construed as providing advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any health problem. Always seek the advice of a physician before starting any new diet and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a particular medical condition.